Switch-actuating mechanism.



No..699,l67. Patented May 6, |902.

J. P. HASTY..

SWITCH ACTUATING lMECHANISM.

- (Appliegtion med Aug. 21, 1901. (Normaal.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH P. HASTY, OF SUPERIOR, NEBRASKA.

SWITCH-ACTUATING M ECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 699,167, dated May 6, 1902.

` Application filed August 21, 1901. Serial No. 72.784. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern: Y

Be it known that I, JOSEPH P. HASTY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Superior, in the county of Nuckolls and State of Ne-` braska, have invented new and useful lmprovements in Switch-Actuating Mechanism, of which'the following is a specification. Y

The invention relates to lrailway-switches, and has for its object to provide simple and efcient devices for adjusting and locking the switch, which devices will permit the automatic movement of the switch and also provide for its automatic return without disturbing the lock;

The invention consists in the construction hereinafter described and pointed out.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical central section of a switch-stand. Fig. 2 is a perspective of a section of track, switch-rails,- and operating and locking devices. Fig. Sis a section on line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

. Fig. 4 is a central section of thel weight at right angles to the view in Fig. 1, showing also the spindle and one of the levers pivoted thereto; and Fig. 5 is a perspective of said le verdetached.

Numeral 1 denotes thev hollow pedestal of a switch-stand, and 2 its base, fastened in any convenient manner to a subbase 3, which latter preferably will also support Vportions of railway-tracks and a switch to permit the use of either track at will.

4 denotes a spindle which may serve as a 'l signal-staff. This spindle is stepped in av crossbar 5 of the base and has a bearing in the top 6 of the stand and is rotatable.

7 denotes a block fixed to the spindle, and Sis a handle pivoted to saidblock and-adapted to move it horizontally between stops 9 to rotate said spindle.

10 denotes notches in the cap of the stand to receive the handle when turned down on its pivot or dropped to lock the spindle and its connected parts in either of two extreme positions, as desired.

11 indicates a weightsliding freely on the spindle and normally resting on the inclined upper ends of twolevers 12, having each a fulcrum 13 in the spindle. These fulcrums are preferably situated about ninety degrees apart.

14 denotes a lever having a fulcrum 15 in a recess 16 in the stand-base and provided with an arm 17, situated between the lower ends of the levers 12 and adapted to be moved by 55 end of lever 14 to the switch-rails, which are manually opened or closed by suitably turn- 6o ing the spindle.-

The weight is situated between the inclined upper ends 19 of the levers 12 and normally acts to-hold levers 12 in operative relation to lever 14, and after the adjustment of the switch it holds it in either position to which it may have been adj usted by the switch-handle, but in such manner as to permit it to be moved in a direction opposite that which effected its adjustment. the switch has been closed to a siding and locked by hand after a train has entered the siding, the Weight tends to hold the Vswitch closed, but can be overcome and lifted on the spindle without moving it and without opposition by the lock. The train leaving the siding automatically moves the switchrails, and by means of the connecting-rods 18 and lever 14 turning the contiguous lever 12 on its pivot, and the said latter lever by its inclined 8o end acting on the rounded bottom ofthe weight lifts the latter. The train-wheels hold open the switch against the action ofthe weight, which, however, closes the switch as soon as the train passes from the switch-rails,

or assuming that the switch has been mang ually opened to the siding and locked it will be closed automatically by a train on the main line moving in a direction from the pivots to the points of the switch-rails, the weight be- 96 ing raised b v the medium of theA rods and le vers, but acting to return the switch as soon as the train has passed.l

It is obvious that the switch-operating han- /f dle may be locked in the notchesin the stand? cap in anyusual manner. The simplicity of the construction and the advantages of the automatic operation of the'swi/teh are'also 0b-- vious. l

Having thus described/any invention, what roe I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters l Patent, is

1. The combination of the switch, the spindle, intermediate mechanism comprising le- Thus, assuming that 7o 4. The combination of the switch, the spindle, intermediate mechanism comprising levers and a connecting-rod, and a weight bearing on said levers to'hold the switch as adjusted,said spindle being held against length- Wise movement.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH I. HASTY.

Witnesses:

J. H. BOSSERMAN, C. E. ADAMS. 

